In a decisive legal ruling, an Accra High Court has struck out a motion filed by the Ghana Police Service seeking to prohibit a planned demonstration against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The court’s decision followed an application to withdraw the motion by Assistant State Attorney David Bachem, acting on the orders of the Attorney General.
With this ruling, the highly anticipated protest is now set to take place on April 28, allowing demonstrators to march against illegal mining practices that have devastated forests, polluted rivers, and threatened local communities.
Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a well-known media personality and one of the conveners of the protest, criticized the initial attempt to halt the demonstration, calling it a move “borne out of bad faith.”
He emphasized the urgent need for government action against illegal miners, stating, “Our natural resources belong to all Ghanaians, and we cannot allow a few individuals to destroy them for personal gain.”
The protest is expected to begin at Obra Spot, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, before proceeding through Ring Road and culminating at Liberation Square, opposite Jubilee House.
The protest is scheduled to start at 4:00 PM on April 28 and run until midnight. It is expected to attract a significant turnout, including concerned citizens, environmental activists, and political figures.
